Verdict
At RM278,000, the Honda Prelude is the rational Malaysian coupe: it has four seats, a 264-litre boot and a 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty, while annual road tax is just RM377. The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT costs RM1,882,888 and its RM6,549 road tax reflects a very different brief. Its 577 hp 3,982 cc V8, all-wheel drive and 3.2-second 0-100 km/h time dwarf the Prelude’s 143 hp 1,993 cc hybrid engine, front-wheel drive and 9.0 seconds. But the AMG GT has only two seats; the Prelude is far easier to justify beyond a weekend drive.
Pick the Honda Prelude if you want a four-seat hybrid coupe with RM377 annual road tax, a 264-litre boot and a 5-year warranty.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT if you want 577 hp, 800 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 3.2-second 0-100 km/h sprint, and can absorb its RM1,882,888 price.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Prelude RM278,000; Mercedes-Benz AMG GT RM1,882,888.
- Performance: Honda Prelude 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds; Mercedes-Benz AMG GT in 3.2 seconds.
- Engine output: Honda Prelude 143 hp and 189 Nm; Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 577 hp and 800 Nm.
- Driveline: Honda Prelude front-wheel drive; Mercedes-Benz AMG GT all-wheel drive.
- Seating and boot: Honda Prelude four seats and 264 litres; Mercedes-Benz AMG GT two seats and 351 litres.
- Annual road tax: Honda Prelude RM377; Mercedes-Benz AMG GT RM6,549.
Prelude
- RM1,604,888 cheaper to buy.
- Four seats and 50:50 split-folding rear seats.
- 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty, plus 10-year hybrid-battery cover.
- 9.0-second 0-100 km/h time trails the AMG GT’s 3.2 seconds.
- Front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive.
- 264-litre boot is 87 litres smaller.
AMG GT
- 577 hp and 800 Nm from its 3,982 cc twin-turbo V8.
- 3.2-second 0-100 km/h time and 315 km/h top speed.
- 351-litre boot, 360-degree camera and 17-speaker Burmester sound system.
- RM1,604,888 more expensive.
- RM6,549 annual road tax versus RM377.
- Only two seats, with fixed rear seating.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM278,000✓ | RM1,882,888 |
| Body type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Segment | C-Segment | Sports Car |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM377✓ | RM6,549 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Atkinson Cycle Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | 32-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin-turbocharger and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | 3,982 cc |
| Horsepower | 143 hp at 6,000 rpm | 577 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 189 Nm at 4,500 rpm | 800 Nm at 2,500 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | V 8 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 81 mm × 96.7 mm | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 181 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 315 Nm | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | e-CVT | AMG Speedshift TCT 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | — | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Daimler |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds | 3.2 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 188 km/h | 315 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,522 mm | 4,728 mm |
| Width | 1,880 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,355 mm | 1,354 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,605 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 1,469 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | — |
| Doors | 3 | 2 |
| Seats | 4 | 2 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres | 351 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/40R19 | 295/30R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/40R19 | 305/30R21 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Continental SportContact 7 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi Link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19 | 21" AMG Multi-spoke Light-alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19 | 21" AMG Multi-spoke Light-alloy |
| Steering | Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers | AMG Active Ride Control with Active Anti-roll Stabilisation, Locking Rear Diff and Rear-axle Steering. |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Knee Airbags) | 8 (Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Dual Front Knee Airbags) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on rear seats | Available on Front Passenger and Outer Two Rear Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Digital Light Matrix LEDs |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | AMG Performance Powered Front Seats with Memory |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | Fixed |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Fixed Sunroof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | — | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-Speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Start | Keyless Push Button Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year/unlimited-mileage high-voltage (hybrid) battery warranty | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Prelude & AMG GT for sale
Prelude vs AMG GT FAQ
Is the Honda Prelude or Mercedes-Benz AMG GT better?
The Honda Prelude is better for regular use, with four seats, split-folding rear seats, lower road tax and a longer 5-year warranty. The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT is decisively better for performance, delivering 577 hp, all-wheel drive and 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT costs RM1,604,888 more than the Honda Prelude: RM1,882,888 versus RM278,000.
Which coupe is more practical?
The Honda Prelude is more practical for passengers because it seats four and has 50:50 split-folding rear seats. The Mercedes-Benz AMG GT seats two, but its 351-litre boot is larger than the Prelude’s 264-litre compartment.
